Joystick-controlled electric Joyboat is designed for quiet cruising

Although all sorts of people enjoy boating, not everyone wants to go blasting across the waves in a noisy speedboat. If you're more content with quietly cruising the waterways, then you might like Sky-Yacht's electric Joyboat. We recently spied the watercraft, at the Dusseldorf boat show.

The 5-person motorboat (which is referred to as a yacht) is powered by two electric motors, and steered using a joystick. Although little in way of specs were provided regarding batteries or maximum speed, one charge should be good for a claimed eight hours of use at the "average speed." If the video at the bottom of the page is anything to go by, that speed isn't anything particularly exhilarating, but is serviceable for getting around.

Users can view battery levels and other stats such as speed and course on a 7-inch touchscreen display, that can be upgraded to 10 inches if desired. Other features on the basic model include a set of rails, an anti-slip deck coating, and a swim ladder. The snazzier Prestige version has more powerful motors, along with cruise control, a Bluetooth audio module, GPS and remote-control steering.

Optional extras include a trailer, Bimini top, cover and table.

Both models tip the scales at 390 kg (860 lb), and are 4.28 meters (14 ft) long by 2.17 meters (7 ft) wide. The model on display at the show – which we think is the basic version – has a suggested price of €6,900 (about US$9,400).

If quiet electric cruising boats seem like your kind of thing, you might also be interested in the Loon or the i4.

An experienced freelance writer, videographer and television producer, Ben's interest in all forms of innovation is particularly fanatical when it comes to human-powered transportation, film-making gear, environmentally-friendly technologies and anything that's designed to go underwater. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spends a lot of time going over the handlebars of his mountain bike, hanging out in off-leash parks, and wishing the Pacific Ocean wasn't so far away. All articles by Ben CoxworthFollow @bencoxworth